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Former deputy accused of improper use of law enforcement database

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. - Investigators said a former Seminole County deputy abused his position using a state database.

William Santiago worked for the Seminole County Sheriff's Office for nearly four years. During that time he's accused of using the Driver and Vehicle Information Database (D.A.V.I.D.) to check up on dozens of people.

According to officials, an internal affairs investigation revealed Santiago used the database 127 times to look up coworkers, friends, family members, ex-girlfriends and even celebrities.

"It is a lot. It's a lot of improper uses of that database," law enforcement expert and former police chief Chuck Drago said of the investigative documents.

The database provides personal information from the Department of Motor Vehicles, including a photo, address and vehicle information. Authorities said Santiago, who resigned while under investigation in 2013, admitted he searched the database and said it was out of curiosity.

His case is now headed to a Florida Department of Law Enforcement commission meeting, where officials said they plan to strip Santiago of his law enforcement certification.

"Somebody using it over and over and over again to that extent, that's unusual," Drago said.